William p



(No Model.)

W. P. OWEN. BRIDGE AND `TAIL PIECE.

Patented Nov. 21, 1893.

'me NATIoNAL LlmoanAPNma coMPANv.

wAlHmmoN. l:A c

UNifrnD Ta'rns arena Futon.

VILLIAM P. OYEN, OF JOPLIN, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO JESSIE O. OVEN, OF SAME PLACE.

BRIDGE AND TAIL=PIECE.

SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 509,240, dated November 21, 1893.

Application filed January 23, 1893. Serial No. 459.348. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WiLLIAM P. OWEN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Joplin, in the county ofJasper and State'of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Bridges and Tail-Pieces; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the saine, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specication.

My invention relates to improvements in tail pieces and bridges for guitars and other similar stringed musical instruments.

The object of my invention is to provide a horizontally adjustable tail piece and a vertically adjustable bridge for stringed musical instruments, with improved means whereby the strings are connected with the instrument and the knots in the strings prevented from coming in contact therewith and marring or injuring the saine.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a perspective view of a portion of a guitar showing my improvements applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the tail piece detached. Fig. 3 is a front View of the bridge detached.

In the said drawings the reference numeral 1 denotes a guitar or other stringed musical instrument, and may-be of any ordinary construction, and provided with the usual stud or projection 2, with which the tail piece engages. The tail piece consists of two metal plates 3 and 4 adj ustably connected together by pins or studs 5 carried by one of said plates, which are adapted to engage with holes or apertures 6 in the other plate. The plate 4 is bent at a right angle at its outer end and formed with'a hole 7 with which stud 2 engages. The other plate 3 has its inner or free end turned upwardly at a right angle forming a ange 8, provided with a series ot beveled notches or recesses 9, and a short distance in rear of this flange is a series of studs lO, equaling in number the strings of the instrument. Intermediate of these studs and the flange is a series of apertures 12, provided with radial slots 13. On its under side the plate 3 is provided with a transverse plate 14 adapted to rest upon the instrument and prevent contact therewith ot the knots of the strings.

In front oi' the tail piece and secured to the instrument is a transverse plate 15 provided with two upwardly projecting pins or studs 16, which engage with apertures in the bridge 17. This bridge at each end is provided with a set screw 18, for vertically adjusting the bridge. This bridge is provided with a series of notches one for each string, and beveled in a reverse direction to the corresponding notches in the tail piece.

The operation will be readily understood. The strings are knotted as usual and passed through the apertures l2, in the tail piece and the strings are then carried through the radial slots 13, up around the studs l0, and then through the notches in the tail piece and bridge. By this meanssthe strings are securely held, there is less liability of breakage, and the instrument is more readily strung. The pressure upon the bridge is also equalized which equalizes the relative power of tone.

I am aware that a combined adjustable tail piece and bridge is not new, but it will be noted that although my tail piece and bridge are adapted to -be used in connection with each other, they are entirely separate and distinct with respect to their construction.

Having thus described my inveuti0n,what I claim isl. An adjustable tail piece for stringed musical instruments, having its inner end turned up forming a flange provided with a series of beveled notches, the upwardly projecting studs and the intermediate apertures with radial slots, substantially as described.

2. An adjustable tail piece for stringed musicalinstrumentshaving its inner end bent at a right angle forming a iiange with beveled notches, the series of upwardly projecting studs, the intermediate apertures with radial slots, and the transverse plate upon the In testimony that I claim the foregoing as under side of the tail piece, substantially as myoWnI have hereunto affixed mysignature 1o described. in presence of two Witnesses.

3. The combination with the adjustable T ,7 5 tail piece havinga flange at its inner end provg ILLIAM P' o EN' vided with beveled notches, of the vertically \\7itnesses:` adjustable bridge having beveled notches, D. G. VANDAMENT,

substantially as described. T. E. J ONES. 

